488. Got Ink? Parker QUINK , Various Ads 1935-1965

An indispensable office and school staple for students and workers in the 1930s is Parker QUINK INK. Back in those days, before the advent of ballpoint pens, fountain pens were used for office and classroom writings.

Unlike disposable ballpens, fountain pens were a sort of a status symbol, not only to be used and refilled with ink, but also to show them off, as fancy ones that had silver and gold fittings, trimmed with mother-of-pearl, and precious gems like diamonds and sapphires! But the ink remained the same favored  Parker QUINK INK.

QUINK INK is a coined term from  'quick' and 'ink' developed by the Parker Pen Company in 1931 and continues to be produced today. Chemist Galen Sayler is credited for its development creation, and  Quink was launched  on 17 March 1931—and its superior qualities—continuous flow, non-cloggging, smooth writing, quick-drying—drove its commercial success worldwide.

A myth grew out of QUINK INK’s origin in that it was a U.P. Filipino chemical engineer  Francisco A. Quisumbing who invented the world-famous ink. After receiving his Ph.D. from Columbia in 1921, he returned to the Philippines to teach Industrial Chemistry at his alma mater, U.P. (1922-1934).In 1923, he founded the Quisumbing Ink Products, that was not connected with Parker, in any way.

Though the popularity of fountain pens gradually dipped during the second half of the 20th century, Parker QUINK INK bottles and refills continue to be available today to a whole market legion traditional fountain pen users worldwide.

SOURCE

Quink Ink, Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quink

343. Brand Stories: ALEMAR'S "The Biggest and Most Modern Book Store in the Far East", 1945

THE SIBALS, Founders of ALEMAR'S, 1945

When couple Dr. Ernesto and Alegria Sibal started selling American books from a one-table store in 1945, little did they know that their business would grow into  “the biggest and most modern bookstore in the Far East” in the 50s and 60s. Their bookshop—ALEMAR’S  was derived from Mrs. Sibal’s name—ALEgria, and the first given name of the Sibal daughters, MARia. 

VISIT ALEMAR'S, 1975 AD

ALEMAR'S, in its heyday, had its main store on Rizal Avenue and branches in Ermita, Recto, Quezon City and Makati. It ventured into printing and publishing in 1950, through its Phoenix Press and Phoenix Publishing House.

DOVER & SUNSET BOOKS, 1978 AD

BY 1975, ALEMAR'S WAS EVEN SELLING KIDDIE CLOTHES!

 ALEMAR’S  carried more than just books—local, imported, textbooks, used books-- it also sold  school and office supplies, toys, men’s, ladies’ and children’s wear, home accessories, magazines and more. Central Book Supply, a division specializing in law books, was also put up. With more aggressive competition from National Bookstore and with heirs leaving for the U.S., ALEMAR'S started closing its shops in the 1980s.

SOURCE: “The Alemar’s Story”, 1961 Philippine Business Progress Report, pp. 24-25.

259. Send Your Cards Early: NATIONAL BOOK STORE and ALEMAR’S Christmas Cards, 1966-1978

ALEMAR'S CHRISTMAS AD, 1978

The Christmas Card tradition began in the United Kingdom when Henry Cole and artist John Horsely designed the first card in 1843, and sold them for a shilling each. 

PRINTED CALLING CARDS with Christmas sentiments, 1910s-20s

The practice caught on and the Americans introduced holiday card sending in the first decade of the 20^th century However, the first  local cards were simply “tarjetas” or calling cards that featured the name of the sender and a simple one-line printed sentiment,

"REMEMBER YOUR FRIENDS ABROAD!", NBS X'mas Cards Ad, 1966

The first illustrated Christmas cards were imported and sold in bazaars and stationary shops in Manila. It was after the war that the practice of sending cards took off, as they became more available.

 

NATIONAL BOOK STORE CHRISTMAS CARDS, :Mura, Maganda,Kapuri-puri",  1966 Ad

In the 60s NATIONAL BOOK STORE (NBS)  and ALEMAR’s were the leading sellers of cards, especially of Christmas Cards. NBS started its own line of Christmas cards, and the most popular were those that carry native themes and scenic and historical spots like churches, mountains, waterfalls and historical buildings. It was only in 1974 that NBS got the Hallmark Card license, which led to the burgeoning of the greeting card business.

ALEMAR’s commercially printed cards under its own name, but it also carried Gibson Christmas cards that were popular I the 70s.

Today, the custom of mailing Christmas Cards is fast fading. Quickly taking their place are online greeting cards  that are animated or scored with music, are deemed more engaging and easier to send with just a click of a computer key—no need to go to the post office.  

 

ALEMAR'S GIBSON CARDS, 1975 Print Ad

On this spread are the seasonal ads ran by NBS and ALEMAR’s promoting their line of holiday greeting cards, to remind us of the days when sending Christmas Cards was the most thoughtful, tangible way to greet a loved one—with a pretty card that one can actually touch, read and re-reread again, and keep, as a reminder that “no one throws away memories”.

236. Brand Names That Became Everyday Pinoy Words #6: MONGOL PENCIL

MONGOL PRINT AD, 1964

Nowhere in the world is the MONGOL more popular than in the Philippines—where the name has become synonymous with “pencils”. MONGOL was a creation of John Eberhard Faber (b. 6 Dec. 1822/ d. 2 Mar. 1879), a German-American who founded  a pencil manufacturing company in new York in 1861.

There are different reported dates of its manufacture, but it started advertising in the U.S.in the early 1900. The best graphite used in the production of pencils supposedly came from the eastern parts of the globe like Siberia, which inspired manufacturers to name their pencils after easter and middle-eastern places like Mikado and Mongol. 

In the Philippines, it was introduced before World War II by American Rolland E. Thompson, who brought the pencils in their trademark woodcases through his Rennolds Enterprises Inc., a Philippine corporation that was working in tandem with H.G. Henares & Sons, Incorporated.

In 1963, 1963, H.G. Henares & Sons, Inc. formed a new company Amalgamated Specialties Corporation (AMSPEC). Resultantly, everything within the manufacturing facilities formerly owned by H.G. Henares & Sons, Inc. for the making of the woodcase "MONGOL" pencil were transferred to AMSPEC, which, thereafter,  was acquired by Rolland E.Thompson, his family and other local investors.

MONGOL TRADE AD, 1902. Source: contapunalism.blog

In the years that followed, AMSPEC spent considerable amount in advertising and promoting its MONGOL Pencils,  enabling it to gain market leadership. The MONGOL Pencil business flourished (MONGOL No. 2 was favored)  and the mark "MONGOL" through time was associated by the purchasing public with AMSPEC as the source and origin of high quality pencils.

MONGOL PRINT AD, 1965

 AMSPEC rose to become as a leading  manufacturer and distributor of the best quality and user-safe school & office supplies to the Filipino market such as Crayola, Li’l Hands, Jumbo Pencils, Magic Touch, Touch and Go, Gold Medal and  Old Town carbon paper.

For many years, AMSPEC was the authorized producer of MONGOL, under license by Eberhardt Faber U.S., in the Philippine market, then later acquired by Faber-Castell USA. MONGOL was also licensed to Eberhardt Faber de Venezuela for that market, which was sold separately to Newell.

Faber-Castell USA was next sold to Newell (Sanford). This license to AMSPEC continued, but Newell ended this agreement around 2008, after the principal owner and CEO of AMSPEC passed away.

LIMITED EDITION NINOY-CORY MONGOLS. Photo: penciltalk.org

AMSPEC ceased MONGOL production, but the brand didn’t disappear –a new supplier, Star Paper Corp. began distributing Venezuelan –made MONGOLs in the country. One of MONGOL’S distinctive limited edition product was the “iamninoy iamcory” MONGOL Pencils. AMSPEC, on the other hand, began making pencils under the brand name “T- Pencil”.

MONGOL STAMP, 1999. Photo: penciltalk.org

MONGOL Pencils continue to be popular in the Philippines and are highly regarded as part of the early education of Filipinos. In fact, stamp showing a MONGOL pencil, was issued by the Philippine Postal Corp. to mark the brand’s 50^th year in the Philippines.

MONGOL NO. 2. Photo: lazada.ph

There are so many imitators of MONGOL today, leading Berol Corp., a wholly owned company of Newell Rubbermaid, the trademark owner of MONGOL, to warn the public of fake MONGOL Pencils flooding the country. But to Pinoys, one thing is clear—it ain’t a pencil, if it ain’t a MONGOL!

SOURCES:

AMSPEC Case:

http://onlineservices.ipophil.gov.ph/ipcaselibrary/ipcasepdf/IPC14-2008-00135.pdf

Just When Was the Mongol Introduced: https://contrapuntalism.blog/2015/01/23/just-when-was-the-mongol-introduced/

190. Is That Who I Think They Are? RICHARD GOMEZ and GRETCHEN BARRETTO for BIC Ballpens, 1986

RISING STARS IN THEIR OWN WRITE: Richard Gomez (age 20) & Gretchen Barretto (age 16).

To a high school student growing up in the 1970s, BIC Ballpoint Pens were a must-have lust when shopping for school supplies. The ubiquitous BIC Cristal---created in 1950 by Société Bic of Clichy, France (founded by Marcel Bich with oartner Edouard Bouffard)—was brought to the U.S. in 1959. The ballpoint pens, with tiny metal sphere tip that allowed ink to flow freely helped shift the world market for from fountain pens to ballpens.

BIC Ballpoint Pens—in Orange and Cristal--were widely available in the Philippines by the late 60s and 70s though a local distributor.  They were the dominant brand until papermate of Gillette came along. BIC was promoted on TV and print ads, with focus on product features.

In 1986 however, BIC thought it needed the help of influential celebrities, so a local ad agency created these ads using the endorsement of the two rising showbiz personalities of the day.

RICHARD GOMEZ, (b. 7 Apr. 1966) a former McDonald’s fastfood attendant and the son of 60s sex bomb Stella Suarez, was the toast of tinseltown at the start of the 90s decade. His career was masterminded by Douglas Quijano who urged producer Lily Monteverde to include the 19 year old in her movie “Inday Bote” starring Maricel Soriano. GOMEZ became a megastar in no time at all—not just as a matinee idol, but also as a A-list celebrity endorser. He would star as a sculler in the iconic 1990 commercial of Bench, a signature role he is best remembered for.

But 4 years before Bench, GOMEZ was cast as a model-endorser in a ‘chismis-sy’ BIC print ad. He was already making heads turn for his bit roles in the movies and his potentials were being recognized. By 1990,  the handsome GOMEZ was lording it over the silver screen, starring in hit movies, winning major acting awards while squiring the likes of Dawn Zulueta,  Aiko Melendez,  Sharon Cuneta, and yes, GRETCHEN BARRETTO.

GRETCHEN BARRETTO (b. 6 Mar. 1970) was launched as one of the Regal Babies in the movie “14 Going Steady”, where she also sang the film’s theme song, a radio hit. Her stock rose when she started doing sexy movies produced by Seiko Films, (“Tukso, Layuna Mo Ako”, “Paminsan-minsan”, “Ama, Bakit Mo Ako Pinabayaan?”), erasing her teenybopper image.

But that didn’t seem to faze the advertiser, BIC, as the company employed her services to star in a second BIC ad. In the next years, BARRETTO would be involved in the 1994 Metro Manila Filmfest envelope-switching scam and also with Tony Boy Cojuangco, who would give her a child, Dominique.

Photo: R.Gomez (FB Page)/ G. Barretto (inquirer.net)

Like BIC, the two celebrities have weathered their own personal storms, RICHARD GOMEZ would find a second career as an athlete, meet his wife Lucy Torres while filming a  commercial and dabble in politics. He is currently the mayor of Ormoc, and is seeking re-election in the 2019 election.

GRETCHEN BARRETTO occasionally appears on TV, and runs her own personal charities. She and her partner are still maintaining their relationship.

Meanwhile, BIC Ballpoint Pens  today are considered as the best-selling pens in the world, with over one billion sold. Since 1993, they are distributed in the Philippines by Filstar Distributors Corp.

SOURCES:

BIC Cristal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bic_Cristal

Richard Gomez: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Gomez

6 Things You Didn’t Know About Richard Gomez: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/publicaffairs/tunaynabuhay/356538/six-things-you-didn-t-know-about-richard-gomez/story/

Gretchen Barretto: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gretchen_Barretto

64. BACK-TO-SCHOOL? BACK TO YESTERDAY'S SCHOOL SUPPLIES!

PRODUCT LINES OF H.G. HENARES &  SONS as of 1961.

As a new schoolyear begins, the hunt is on for new school supplies needed by students to get through another year of learning, experimenting, solving problems and making reports. In the 50s, there were already established stores that carried school supplies from leading distributors and manufacturers. H. G. Henares & Sons, Inc. was one such enterprise, established by Hilarion Henares Sr. back in 1939. By 1961, it operated an industrial complex that manufactured  crayons, school chalks, water color, erasers, paste and other school supplies. It held the exclusive license to manufacture the famous Gold Medal Crayola brand of crayons (1953), Old Town Carbon Paper and Typewriter Ribbons (1955) and Parker Quink Ink (1956).

CORONA SUPPLY, Print Ad, 1955

Meanwhile, student so mathematics, geometry and engineering can get their compasses, protractors, rulers and triangles from Corona Supply Co., established way back in 1920. It was known for its imported school and office supplies carrying name brands like Staetler and Faber Castell.

CASTELL SLIDE RULE, Print Ad, 1959

 The best-selling product among students of engineering were the Castell Slide Rules--used for trigonometric functions mostly---and now an extinct educational tool replaced by new and powerful calculators.

VASQUEZ BROS.&CO. INC. Print Ad, 1955

Aside from Corona, Vasquez Bros. was another happy hunting ground for school supplies and educational materials. It had branches in Recto, Sta. Cruz and Quiapo and was just as well-known as Goodwill and National Book Store in those days.

MONGOL PENCIL, Print Ad, 1964

No one got through school without a pencil--the basic instrument for writing. And when one mentions pencils, the top-of-mind brand is undoubtedly, Mongol. The pencil was an original product of Eberhard Faber, a pencil factory in Germany. As mentioned, Henares & Sons acquired the license to manufacture the world-renowned pencils, until Amalgamated Specialties Corp. took over. Today, Mongol Pencils--the most popular brand patronized by Filipino students--are manufactured in China.

OLD TOWN CARBON PAPER, Print Ad, 1965

For making duplicates of book reports and theses, Old Town Carbon Paper was indispensable--it made copies fast, without smudges and blurs. Like Mongol, it was manufactured by Amspec,

PARKER QUINK INK, Print Ad, 1957

Time was when the use of fountain pens was limited to students of means and to elite private schools. The ink of choice was the revolutionary Quink made by Parker Pen Company. Unlike other water inks, it was alcohol-based so it dried by absorption, rather than evaporation.  A washable version--perfect for messy students--was introduced in 1957.

 Remember, it really doesn't matter whether your school supplies were bought from Divisoria or from National Book Store. What matters more is acquiring an education so that you become a better version of yourself!